When Dolby Atmos sound emanates from a metal cube the size of a palm, the entire geek community in Silicon Valley is left wondering: Is this really a mini PC? The latest release from ZOTAC, the SEi13 Pro, transforms a palm-sized computer into a smart terminal capable of speech and song with its built-in speakers and microphone. This performance beast, equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900HK processor, has managed to fit a professional studio-level audio system into a space not much larger than a soda can, and this is no joke.
Opening this little powerhouse, which weighs less than 1.5 kilograms, will leave you in awe—its 14-core, 20-thread i9-13900HK processor boasts a turbo frequency of 5.4GHz, while 32GB of LPDDR5 memory is neatly arranged on the circuit board, with a dual-channel design maximizing data throughput. Benchmark enthusiasts have been unable to contain their excitement; a 16% performance boost is not just squeezing out a little more juice, it’s genuinely packing desktop-level performance into your pocket. Hardcore gamers might be cheering: this configuration would be top-tier in a gaming laptop, yet it fits into a box smaller than a router?
But ZOTAC’s killer feature lies within the speakers. The combination of dual speakers with a professional amplifier silences audiophiles who often complain that mini PCs sound like “broken gongs.” With the support of a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip, the sound field calibration reportedly captures the sensitive frequency range of 20Hz-20KHz perfectly. An overseas blogger found that when playing “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the bass and drum layering was surprisingly comparable to that of a thousand-yuan Bluetooth speaker—can you believe it?
The microphone array is the real black technology. The B1 AI chip’s noise reduction algorithm can suppress environmental noise, clearly picking up whispers from five meters away. Imagine cooking in the kitchen while talking to the mini PC in the living room: “Xiao Yi, set the timer for 3 minutes,” and the roar of the range hood doesn’t interfere with the voice command recognition. If this technology becomes widespread, the central control panel for smart homes might be out of a job.
In terms of storage, ZOTAC has also gotten creative. Initially, one might think that a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD is already impressive, but they’ve even reserved a second hard drive slot. Now you understand why there are so many heat dissipation holes on the chassis, right? When both SSDs are fully operational, the read and write speeds can soar to 7000MB/s, making copying 4K movies feel like a breeze. Those who criticize mini PCs for poor expandability will likely have to swallow their words this time.
What has truly shaken the industry is the pricing strategy of $539. Compared to Apple’s Mac Mini at $599 for the base model, ZOTAC is clearly aiming to disrupt the market. However, knowledgeable insiders understand that while this price isn’t exactly a bargain in the mini PC realm, considering the i9 processor and audio system, it’s practically a loss leader. No wonder analysts are whispering: ZOTAC is using the SEi13 Pro as a stepping stone to carve out a path in overseas markets.
Heat dissipation has always been a Damocles sword hanging over mini PCs. This time, ZOTAC’s engineers have introduced a luxurious package of liquid metal thermal conductivity and dual fans, which, during a two-hour full-load test, kept the surface temperature below 45°C. Some netizens joked that this cooling system is like the “central air conditioning of mini PCs,” but it remains to be seen whether long-term high-load operation will lead to a “teppanyaki” scenario.
In terms of interfaces, it continues the excellent tradition of mini PCs. There are a total of six USB ports, including a Type-C that supports Thunderbolt 4, and triple display outputs that maximize productivity. However, the most impressive feature is the 2.5G network port, paired with a WiFi 6 wireless card, providing internet speeds that can keep up with an ex’s change of heart. If you connect an external GPU dock, the performance ceiling of this device could truly break through the roof.
Looking at the $539 price tag on the overseas website, domestic players are anxiously rubbing their hands. Based on ZOTAC’s past practices, the domestic version will likely cut some fancy features to lower the price. However, the built-in AI noise-canceling microphone is a key feature for interfacing with large language models; if it gets stripped away, it would truly become a “castrated version.” Some insiders have revealed that the domestic version may focus on speaker power, as Western users are more inclined towards “audio-visual entertainment.”
According to IDC’s report, the mini PC market surged by 37% last year, and ZOTAC has timed this wave perfectly. However, to make the SEi13 Pro a phenomenon, simply stacking configurations won’t be enough. Reflecting on the quiet exit of Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing) reminds us how deep the waters are in this arena. ZOTAC’s bet on intelligent voice interaction might just pave the way for a “thinking mini PC” as a new frontier.
In the quiet of the night, staring at this computing hub that can fit into a briefcase, one suddenly realizes that we are witnessing another transformation in the form of PCs. From bulky cases to slim laptops, now even professional-grade audio systems can be integrated into a palm-sized space. Who knows what new capabilities the next mini PC will bring? Perhaps before long, we will be able to pull out a “small iron box” in a café that can edit 4K videos, host Dolby audio online meetings, and casually chat with ChatGPT—can you really say that future won’t come?